Gadsden County Public Library

Updated Meeting Room Policy

LIBRARY MEETING ROOM POLICY

Library meeting rooms are available to the public on the basis of the following priorities:

Highest Priority – Library sponsored activities.
Second Priority – Civic, cultural, recreational, political, religious and educational organizations (broadly interpreted to include special interest groups such as hobby clubs).
Third Priority – Gadsden County businesses for such activities as, but not limited to, staff development programs.
Meeting rooms will not be available for weddings, parties or for any organization or business when the purpose of the meeting is to sell anything or to promote any commercial enterprise.

Organizations sponsoring cultural, recreational, or educational activities that are open to the public may charge fees so long as the purpose of such fees is to pay instructors or to pay for materials required for the program. The Library does not take any position regarding political or religious meetings.

Meetings held in the library are subject to the following rules and restrictions:

Rooms will be assigned in the order of receipt of written applications from organizations or patrons, in accord with the above priorities.

Meetings must be sponsored by a responsible person or organization. This sponsor is responsible for the character and duration of the meeting and for restoring the facility to its original condition. Facilities must be left in the same condition as they were found. If not, arrangements will be made for their cleanup and the sponsor will be charged for this services.

A responsible adult must be identified as representing the sponsor in the application and must be present during the entire program.

Refreshments or meals may be served if they are provided by the sponsor holding the meeting and if proper cleanup is assured. Smoking and the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises are prohibited.

No one may monopolize the use of facilities, nor will regularly scheduled meetings be allowed for an indeterminate period of time. This means, for example, that if a sponsor schedules meetings on the same day of the week for two successive weeks in a row, or schedules meetings on the same day of the week for two weeks in a month, or schedules meetings on the same day of the month for two months in a row, that sponsor will lose priority to any other sponsor who wants a meeting on a succeeding conflicting date.

Rooms can be utilized after library hours only with the agreement of library staff.
Sponsors may not store materials or equipment at the Library nor will the Library be held responsible for such property while on the premises.

Sponsors that abuse facilities or violate the provisions of this policy or other rules of the Library may be denied future facility use.

The written application for meeting room use must include a statement accepting the conditions of this policy.

Approved 5/18/2004

Amended 1/29/2008

posted by GCPLStaff @ 10:12 AM